Mesothelioma Cancer Stages Explained

Mesothelioma is a cancer that attacks the lungs and the chest. Also, asbestos lung cancer, fatal tumors in cancer of the mesothelial cells form a protective layer on the lungs, heart and abdominal organs is known. It is a type of lung cancer that takes many years to develop and produce symptoms. Are approximately 3,000 cases per year (mostly men over 40) reported. It is estimated that the number increased to about 300,000 cases before 2030.

Asbestos cancer mesothelioma

Epithelial mesothelioma is a rare and deadly cancer that affects the lining of the chest cavity, heart, lungs and abdomen. There are three forms of epithelial mesothelioma: The most common is pleural mesothelioma, the second most common, peritoneal mesothelioma (makes only a quarter of cases), and the rarest form, pericardial mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma, the most common form of this disease in the pleura, a thin membrane between the lungs and chest. The pleura a lubricated surface so that the lungs do not rub and rub against the chest wall. There are two types of pleural mesothelioma is the first "diffuse and malignant." This guy has cancer and is often fatal within one year after diagnosis. The second type is "localized and benign" and not usually life threatening. Are usually removed by surgery.

Food for lung cancer is not to be confused with lung cancer. In the lining of the lungs, the affected area of ??the body is the mesothelium, a thin membrane that most of the internal organs of the body called covered. The mesothelium of the lungs is called pleura. Lung Lining Mesothelioma is sometimes called after the area in which it occurs.

One that forms the body and the other a bag around the outside of the first layer surrounds - The thin membrane is composed of two layers. Between the layers of the mesothelium, a liquid to slip the vital organs is easily allowed for articles in contact with them.

Localized pleural mesothelioma is not always caused by asbestos. However, if it has spread to other parts of the body such as lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs, it is considered evil and is often the result of exposure to asbestos.

Peritoneal mesothelioma has a tumor in the peritoneum of the abdomen. This type of mesothelioma is very rare, less than a quarter of all known cases of the disease. There is no effective treatment against this disease and most patients live less than a year after diagnosis.

Mesentery cancer with peritoneal cancer (mesothelioma) are compared. This type of cancer primarily affects parts of the peritoneum connecting the various organs of the abdominal cavity wall (midgut is for the stomach to the jejunum mesojejunum). Mesentery cancer includes all abdominal peritoneal extensions. Tumors rarely originate in the mesentery real, even if there is a common way for the spread of mesothelioma in the abdominal cavity.

Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma, the membrane surrounding the heart (pericardium or pericardium) influences. In this disease, and solid masses, buried (liquid) to develop around the pericardium. Not all images are strictly related to Mesothelioma.

Causes

Mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos fibers or dust. Workers in the asbestos industry are the main targets for the attraction of this deadly disease. Asbestos fibers enter the body either by inhaling asbestos fibers or by swallowing small. The fibers can mutate healthy cells into cancer cells. As the body is unable to address these fibers to an inflammation of the lungs (asbestosis). This condition is deteriorating and will eventually mean. Asbestos exposure is believed to account for about 75% of cases of cancer of the lung lining.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a very difficult to detect cancer at an early stage. The first symptoms are usually general in nature and there is not, in some cases, and can last up to 15 to 50 years after exposure to develop. The first symptom is usually followed by a constant chest pain, coughing or lung and breathing problems. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma (a less common form of mesothelioma) frequently experience abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea, bloating, and often in addition to the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. You may also develop bowel obstruction or obstruction of breathing.

Staircase and the diagnosis of mesothelioma

There are three classification systems to determine treatment of mesothelioma: Butchart System, TNM classification, and the system of Brigham

Butchart staging system

The Butchart System is the oldest and most widely spread. This system aims to determine the extent of the primary tumor and is divided into four stages of mesothelioma.

Phase I of the Butchart System is the presence of mesothelioma in the lining of the left or right lung and the diaphragm may also be on the same page. Phase II includes the progression of mesothelioma in the lining of the chest wall, esophagus and lungs interferes pages. You can also lymph nodes in the chest. The start of Phase III begins when mesothelioma, as the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. At this stage cancer to the lymph nodes may also be in the chest. Doctors identify Stage IV, the final step, if the evidence confirms the spread of cancer to other organs (metastasis).

TNM system

TNM Stage I involves the lining of the right or left lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same page. At this stage the lymph nodes are not involved. Phase II begins when mesothelioma spreads to the lining of the lungs from one side to a lymph node on the same page. At this stage, cancer can also access the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same page spread. Phase III begins when mesothelioma is on the chest wall, muscles, nerves, heart, esophagus and other organs in the chest on the same side as the primary tumor. In the last step, the phase IV, mesothelioma to the lymph nodes in the chest on the opposite side of the primary tumor of the lung opposite the primary tumor and drove straight to the organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Metastasis is the final result of this step.

Brigham System

Brigham system determines the resectability (the ability to remove surgically), the mass of mesothelioma. Stage I resectable tumor, while lymph nodes are not affected. In Phase II the tumor remains respectable, but mesothelioma affects the lymph nodes. In Phase III the tumor becomes unusable. This has permeated through the membrane, or peritoneum. Stage III can occur with or without involvement of lymph nodes and spreads to occur on the chest wall and heart. Stage IV occurs when doctors discovered metastases to remote organs.

According to the doctors to identify the stage of malignant mesothelioma in a patient, the patient and the physician to consider treatment options. Mesothelioma treatment programs subject from many factors, including cancer stage, location of the cancer, the spread of mesothelioma cancer properties of cancer cells under the microscope and the patient's age and concerns.